by Brad Lancaster

Earthworks are one of the easiest, least
expensive, and most effective ways of passively
harvesting and conserving multiple sources of
water in the soil. Associated vegetation then
pumps the harvested water back out in the form of
beauty, food, shelter, wildlife habitat, and
passive heating and cooling strategies, while
controlling erosion, increasing soil fertility,
reducing downstream flooding, and improving water and air quality.

Building on the information presented in Volume
1, this book shows you how to select, place,
size, construct, and plant your chosen
water-harvesting earthworks. It presents detailed
how-to information and variations of a diverse
array of earthworks, including chapters on mulch,
vegetation, and greywater recycling so you can
customize the techniques to the unique requirements of your site.

Real life stories and examples permeate the book, including:
    * How curb cuts redirect street runoff to
passively irrigate flourishing shade trees planted along the street.
    * How check dams have helped create springs
and perennial flows in once-dry creeks
    * How infiltration basins are creating thriving rain-fed gardens
    * How backyard greywater laundromats are
turning “wastewater” into a resource growing
food, beauty, and shade that builds community, and more
    * How to create simple tools to read slope and water flow
    * More than 450 illustrations and photographs

Brad Lancaster has been teaching the sustainable design system of permaculture and integrated rainwater harvesting systems, and running his own permaculture design, consultation, and education business since 1993. He has taught programs for the ECOSA Institute, Columbia University, University of Arizona, Prescott College, Audubon Expeditions, Berea College, Sonoran Permaculture Teaching Guild, Permaculture Drylands Institute, the Amphitheater School District, and others. He has designed water harvesting permaculture systems for Milagro Co-housing, Stone Curves Co-housing, Rio Development, Civano, and others. Brad and his brother have created, and live on, a thriving 1/8th of an acre urban permaculture site in downtown, Tucson Arizona. Within his neighborhood and beyond, Brad feeds his passion for community building and activism, resulting in the creation of the Dunbar/Spring Organic Community Garden, mini-nature park, BICAS (Bicycle Inter-Community Arts and Salvage), annual neighborhood native tree plantings, and the desert harvesters project ( www.DesertHarvesters.org)